Villadolid & Associates Law Firm (“VILLADOLID LAW” or “Law Office” or the “Firm”) values and upholds your fundamental right to privacy in accordance with Republic Act No. 10173, otherwise known as the Data Privacy Act (“DPA”) of 2012, its Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR), and all relevant issuances of the National Privacy Commission (NPC).

This Privacy Policy sets out how the Firm collects, uses, retains, and protects personal data obtained through the message form available on our official website at www.villadolidlaw.com.

I. Personal Data Collected

By submitting the message form, you voluntarily provide the following personal data:

• Full Name
• Contact Number
• Email Address
• Message or Inquiry

II. Purpose of Collection and Processing

Your personal data is collected and processed for the following legitimate purposes:

1. To respond to your inquiries or concerns;
2. To provide legal information and/or initiate legal services;
3. To document communications with prospective and existing clients; and
4. To comply with legal obligations, including those under professional responsibility rules;

Processing shall be carried out in a manner consistent with the principles of transparency, legitimate purpose, and proportionality.

III. Legal Basis for Processing

Your personal data is being processed on the basis of:

1. Your explicit consent given upon submission of the message form;
2. Legitimate interest in providing legal services and client communication;
3. Compliance with legal obligations and professional regulations applicable to law offices and lawyers in the Philippines.

IV. Data Sharing and Disclosure

VILLADOLID LAW ensures the confidentiality of your personal data. It shall not be disclosed to third parties except in the following cases:

1. To authorized personnel of our Law Office on a need-to-know basis;
2. When disclosure is necessary to respond to your inquiry or to perform services you have requested;
3. When required or authorized by law, rule, or regulation; and
4. In compliance with lawful court orders, subpoenas, or legal processes.

VILLADOLID LAW does not engage in the sale, rental, or unauthorized sharing of personal data.

V. Data Retention and Disposal

Your personal data shall be retained only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected, and as required under applicable laws and regulations, particularly those governing the legal profession.

After the retention period, your data shall be securely and permanently disposed of through safe and industry-accepted methods of deletion and destruction.

VI. Data Security Measures

A reasonable and appropriate organizational, physical, and technical security measures are implemented to protect personal data from loss, unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, or destruction. These measures include, but are not limited to:

1. Secure web communications via SSL (Secure Sockets Layer);
2. Firewalls and intrusion detection systems;
3. Restricted internal access to data on a need-to-know basis; and
4. Periodic data privacy training for the DPA officer.

VII. Rights of Data Subjects

In accordance with the Data Privacy Act, you have the following rights:

1. Right to be informed of the purpose and extent of processing of your personal data;
2. Right to object to the processing of your data under circumstances provided by law;
3. Right to access your personal data in our records;
4. Right to rectify any inaccuracy or error in your personal data;
5. Right to erasure or blocking of your data, under conditions provided by law;
6. Right to data portability;
7. Right to damages for any violation of your data privacy rights; and
8. Right to file a complaint with the National Privacy Commission.

To exercise any of these rights, you may contact us using the information below.

VIII. Contact Information

For inquiries, concerns, or requests relating to this Privacy Policy or the exercise of your rights, you may contact our Data Protection Officer as follows:

Villadolid & Associates (“Villadolid Law”)
Atty. Irene Grace C. Villadolid
Managing Lawyer & Data Protection Officer

Address: 2nd Floor, JCV Building, Parian Complex,
Brgy. Old Balara, Commonwealth Avenue,
Quezon City, Philippines
Email: info@villadolidlaw.com

Contact Number: 0962-8458842
Website: www.villadolidlaw.com

IX. Policy Amendments

This Privacy Policy may be updated or amended as necessary to reflect changes in applicable laws, regulations, or internal policies. Any updates will be posted on our website and shall take effect immediately upon publication.

By submitting your personal data through the message form, you confirm that you have read and understood this Privacy Policy and voluntarily give your consent to the collection and processing of your personal data.